President expresses regret over protestor

[Centurion2000]

But, to make the visitor really feel at home, they locked her up and charged her too.

What charge?

[NAVY84]

I'm with you. There are apologies and then there are APOLOGIES (complete with groveling etc). I have a feeling the proper way to make that apology was the topic of discussion at the time her press pass was approved. That a person is punished for an offense related to the exercise of their 'free speech right' is not without precedent. I would say that the punishment actually puts an exclamation point on their statement.

[Michael.SF.]

What she did was what was necessary to get something said where it actually would be heard.

See Poly annish's post #53 below, she has already stated what I would say in response and did so better then I could have.

Make no mistake on what I am saying here, I agree with what she said, but the WH has the right to control the event.

If she truly believes in her cause, then she should be willing to suffer the consequences for her actions.

[Centurion2000]

Where would we be now - seriously - if this "protester" had been armed with a semi-automatic pistol instead of just her big fat mouth?

Well, she would have shot a Chinese Communist President. Big damned deal.

[ARCADIA]

Lets watch Bush lick his boots. I have never seen a man so infatuated with communist despots.

[manwiththehands]

"Sorry, Hu. Now if she were Bill Bennett I would have flamed him right here in front of you."

[MadIvan]

I have a fair idea what our dear President Reagan would have done in this situation: the lady would have been escorted out, politely, but firmly. She would not have been arrested. And if Hu had complained, the President would have said "We have freedom of speech in this country. You are going to hear things, even within the confines of official events that you're not going to like. And if you don't like it, well I'm afraid that's really too bad."

There are good manners, which suggest the lady should have been escorted out. There are considerations to liberty, which means she should not have been arrested, nor should an apology have been issued.

Regards, Ivan

[PISANO]

Waco photos and those of the Jack booted thugs who took away Elian Gonzales would be in SCHOOL BOOKS right now.

The UNITIED STATES of AMERICA's most oppressive regime who authorized these domestic terrorist activities would be taught in K thru 12 ........IF..IF there were a REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT in office at the time.

Think about it!!

[Minutemen]

I AM PROUD OF THE PROTESTER DOING SOMETHING HERE, THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HER SHOT IN CHINA.

[NAVY84]

"I have never seen a man so infatuated with communist despots."

The Peanut Farmer springs to mind first.

[Spiff]

Lets watch Bush lick his boots. I have never seen a man so infatuated with communist despots.

Taking the Easter break to relax from his constant efforts to appease the invaders who recently marched in our streets waving the flags of the foreign nation to which they give their allegiance, President Bush found renewed energy with which to appease the tyrant who leads one of the most brutal and murderous communist nations in all of human history. Just another day at the office for President Bush. Well except for that little glitch in the pomp and pageantry caused by that discourteous little Chinese woman who wouldn't shut the hell up, interrupting the dictator's prepared speech.

[daivid]

I wonder if Ronald Reagan would have charged this woman with a felony for speaking his mind.

I would venture to say President Reagan would have said something humorous and poignant to diffuse the situation, but not apologize for having freedom of speech in America. After all, he told Mr Gorvachev to tear down the Berlin wall.

This woman's cry for freedom of religion and freedom of expression is as American as our Founding Fathers' love for liberty.

[Jorge]

what the hell is there to regret...? the fact that she was silenced or the fact that you regret you and hu had to hear it...

I doubt anybody here has a problem with protest of China's govt policies, but this was not the proper forum for it, and any breach of security at an event like this is a concern. If a protester could get this close, who else could get in?
That's what's regrettable about it.

[newconhere]

You have summed it up. I have been trying to figure out what is it about Bush that has got me perplexed. "He has lost his "bad ass" balls." Maybe one can be in Washington for only 4 years. Anymore than that the Libs get to you.

[Sometimes A River]

More like: (from the actual story):

The Secret Service charged Wang with disorderly conduct under local statutes. The U.S. Attorney's office (Who works for Bush) was weighing federal charges of "willing intimidation or disruption of a foreign official," said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren.

[Sometimes A River]

** The Secret Service charged Wang with disorderly conduct under local statutes. The U.S. Attorney's office was weighing federal charges of "willing intimidation or disruption of a foreign official," said Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren. **

Real classy!

[azkathy]

I wonder what they charged Cindy Shehan with when her mouth got the better of her?

[azkathy]

Did you see this post on a diferent thread?
HU Heckled on south Lawn

To: All
IF I have the right person this woman was at one time a doctor in China. This seems to be a health profession article but I does give some info to her background. I would say this is the source of her rage as well. Souce Medical Professionals: China Has a Very Large Reserve of Organs from Living People
Today we invited two medical professionals; one is Dr. Wang Wenyi, who earned her medical doctor's degree from the Department of Pharmacology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York. She was also a medical doctor in China.

She doesn't sound flaky to me. Passionate, yes, but not flaky.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Yup. In our rush to elect someone "electable" in 2000 after 8 years of Clinton, we got ClintonLite.

[mysterio]

So you're in favor of any journalist yelling whatever he wants at a White House state function without penalty? Or just when you agree with what they yell?

I'm for protest. If they let the damned klan have a pow wow on the courthouse steps in my hometown, then I say it's no problem when an honorable Chinese woman yells at communist satan.

That jackass should have been arrested the second his feet touched sand.